Apparently I live in one of the happiest countries in the world. Though not the happiest country, that honour belongs to Denmark. Canad is ranked the eighth happiest country in the world. I find these lists infinitely fascinating and surely measuring happiness is a complex matter. I am not overly happy, does this put me in the minority of Canadians, does this make me a bubbling personality compared to someone living in Zimbabwe. Obviously I have more to be happy about than someone living in a country like Zimbabwe which is being oppressed by its leader. The top 10 are below, for me, the only surprise is Guatemala. I would have had no problem guessing most of the list.
1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Austria
4. Iceland
5. Finland
6. Australia
7. Sweden
8. Canada
9. Guatemala
10. Luxembourg
"I have been built up and trusted, broke down and busted, but they'll get theirs and we will get ours......"
Counting Crows have been touring Europe, playing festivals and concert gigs everywhere from South Africa to France. On June 28 they played the Concert At The Sea festival in Holland. They closed the show in front of over 50,000 people and at the end of their set they were joined on stage by Dutch band Blof. The two bands played for about 45 minutes, jamming and rocking to some of Adam Duritz's favourite songs. The first song clip below is of the song The Ballad Of El Goodo, originally done by Big Star. Part of Counting Crows brilliance is their ability to take other bands songs and make them into their own. They have done this with Big Yellow Taxi, Friend Of The Devil and countless others that they perform live. Also their ability to improvise on stage, rearrange and alter their own songs adds to their appeal. At least to me, because I don't want to hear the songs exactly like they are on Cd's, I have heard them thousands of times, perhaps the casual fan hasn't but it is still musical brilliance.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rBJR3CRnZdI
"I left my baby on the side of the highway, she just couldn't see things my way..."
The next clip is a cover of the song Someday (I Will Treat You Right) originally done by Sparklehorse.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FPerQh4zN2k&feature=user
"Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan Street, where all the bodies hang on the air, if she remembers, she hides it whenever we meet...."
The next clip is an extended version of Sullivan Street by Counting Crows with help from Blof.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8mfkUjSWzpw&feature=user
"Take a holiday in Spain, leave my wings behind me....."
The next clips is of Holiday In Spain, with Pascal singing it in Dutch and Adam singing it in English. Of course, Adam fucked up his own song, he can't make it through a show without messing up his own lyrics, it is so brilliant. Don't miss the end of the clip with a sing a long of The Mamas and Papas California Dreaming.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iSqj9z-LaMM&feature=user
"If you take me back, back to your place, I'll try not to bother you, I promise..."
Today I watched the movie Hancock, I thought it was pretty good. I like Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman, so it was a good cast for me. There is a good twist in the middle of the movie which makes it much more interesting, I was wondering where they were going with the movie but this helped, a lot. Also in the middle of the movie, faintly in the background, was the great Two by Ryan Adams and The Cardinals. So there is a clip of that song below and a link to information about Hancock.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448157/
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YRuY49nXgA8
"Maria came from Nashville with a suitcase in her hand, she said she'd like to meet a boy who looks like Elvis...(it isn't me...)..."
Also from The Concert At The Seat is the clip below of a 10+ minute version of Round Here.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=J7euoggaaz4
I have been falling behind in my passages from the books I am reading. So below is one from Snow by Orhan Pamuk.
"If God does not exist, that means heaven does not exist either. And that means the world's poor, those millions who live in poverty and oppression, will never go to heaven. And if that is so, then how do you explain all the suffering of the poor? What are we here for, and why do we put up with so much unhappiness, if it's all for nothing?"
"Her kindness bangs a gong, it moves me along..."
Below is Anna Begins from June 30 in Paris.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YMxgt_cTibI
I have decided to rededicate myself to trying to write something everyday, no matter quality or substance. The poem below was inspired by the last clip, the song Meet On The Ledge, originally done by Fairpoint Convention but it is Adam's passion when singing it that inspires me. The title of the poem is Meet At The Edge, not exactly stolen but it isn't the title that matters, it is what is between the beginning and the ending that does. The clip is below the poem.
Meet At The Edge
There will be a day in the future
After all our hearts have been broken
By humanity’s cruelty and its greed
When we will be able to say sorry
For everything done or not done
We will all meet at the edge
Where this land ends and silence begins
This will be our final goodbye
All our memories will become golden
There will be no more regrets or wishes
Everything has turned completely pure
A reminder of our innocence and potential
Lost friends are found like treasures
They will stay with us throughout time
Everything we need lives in our bubble
An infinite number passing through each other
No petty conflicts or broken hearts
Have we all not suffered enough
Through lonely nights and boring days
Without a conversation to give our thoughts
Opinions forming but dying in their birth
We have all stood before the edge
Believing life actually ends beyond it
None of us know or could ever know
This is why we will all meet at the edge
Numbers without definition or comprehension
Their relevance equals one and everyone
Until we realize what we mean to each other
There will be no chance for us to mean anything
Eventually a feeling of peace and understanding
Comes over everyone of us and we know
Everything we are meant to know about life
Nothing more and nothing less than its truths
Everyone will remain unique but equality rules
Of course this utopia does not exist on earth
The hope is and has to be that it does elsewhere
Only there can we really call each other humans.
07/02/08
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZlqRQV8_clA
Happiness is something we all yearn for and will all hopefully find. There are times in our lives when we might become unhappy because of another person's happiness. This is simply human nature but if we are good people than it shouldn't last. We should find happiness in their happiness, as they would in our happiness. Even if they are a lost friend, a broken love or a complete stranger. There is a place for everyone to be happy, though it might not be with the person you would like it to be. It is only when you find your own happiness that you can see how wrong it was of you to wish them anything but happiness. There might be a mountain, an ocean or a continent between you, literally or figuratively. People are in our lives for reasons, be it a long time or a short time, it is time, to be valued and respected. When its time has passed, it should be sadly mourned but ultimately happily remembered. Only when we realize that nothing is forever, nothing is for certain, can we be a better person. It is never too late to smile for someone, even if they are no longer a friend.
It is raining now, as it tends to do here in the early summer. Right now it looks like a steady mist which is a pleasant change from our usual pouring storms. The right kind of rain is completely peaceful, its falling reminds us how precious the sun is. A good rain is necessary to wash everything clean, giving us a new window to see and appreciate life through.
john.
No comments:
Post a Comment